Nowadays more and more people are using electronic means for sharing, learning and teaching across the boundaries imposed by geographical constraints.
The use of e-mail can enhance students' English skills. Owen et.al.(1998) indicate that it is important for ESL students to use the e-mail mode of communication as it helps them communicate and use the language outside the classroom.
The usage of electronic mail enhances processes of dialogue and thus learning.
Why use Emails?
ESL learners need to develop their English language and literacy skills.
Attending to the ways in which learning is part of the email communication process is important so that processes supporting and enhancing electronic communication as a medium for learning can be effectively established and supported.
Implications for emails outside the classroom
Some students might not like to write or reply to emails (Owen et. al.,1998).
A lot of people may observe and monitor the email discussion without participating.
Benefits
When used effectively, it can prevent ESL learners from "academic and social marginalization" (Murray & Kouritzin, 1997, p.187 cited in Svedkauskaite, Reza-Hernandez, and Clifford).
Engaged learning outside the classroom can offer ESL students opportunities to construct meaning and learn in a variety of ways. Communicating via emails helps students learn from their peers.
Using emails can "support, challenge, and enrich" any learner (Green, 2001).
The use of email discussion groups enhances learning.
It can expand the students' ability to communicate in the target language beyond class times (Davey, 2001).
Students have “control over the direction of their learning by controlling their time, speed of learning, autonomy, choice of topics or even their own identity (Hoven, 1992, cited in Svedkauskaite, Reza-Hernandez, and Clifford).
Specific student needs are met. Students’ autonomy is increased. They are more responsible for their learning. Students are encouraged to have cooperation with peers and make decisions (Burgess & Trinidad, 1997).
ESL students can learn in a rich linguistic environment, extend their language skills, and not be embarrassed for not knowing answers (Padron & Waxman, 1996, p. 344; Lee, 2000).
It greatly helps build their confidence.
Conclusion
Using E-mail provides important benefits for students. Email facilitates asynchronous (rather than synchronous) online collaboration which allows more reflection and analysis(Wang, 2005), minimises 'communicative stress', which Brown & Yule (1983 cited in Davey, 2001) list as a major factor for creating optimum communicative learning conditions and expands the students' ability to communicate in the target language beyond the classroom.
E-mail communication can enhance and support continuous and ongoing learning of language.
* Getting started *
Using Your E-mail is the Way To Go!
Send Messages and Download Files or Images. The first thing any teacher needs to know is whether or not their students know how to use a computer or not. After establishing that everyone in the classroom is familiar with computers and how to access the internet, then they start by helping them set up their emails (Crockett, 2002) .
Video 1 provides easy steps on how to use emails. Video 2 is a guide to computer use, the internet and emails.
Learning how to send emails, facilitates communication with infinite numbers of people. ..
Video 3 - Educational video on how to write emails and use software.
Email and Language Learning
Introduction | | Why use Emails? | | Implications for emails outside the classroom | | Benefits | | Conclusion | * Getting started *
How can the use of emails help with language learning?
Introduction
Nowadays more and more people are using electronic means for sharing, learning and teaching across the boundaries imposed by geographical constraints.
Why use Emails?
Implications for emails outside the classroom
Benefits
Conclusion
* Getting started *
Using Your E-mail is the Way To Go!
Send Messages and Download Files or Images.
The first thing any teacher needs to know is whether or not their students know how to use a computer or not. After establishing that everyone in the classroom is familiar with computers and how to access the internet, then they start by helping them set up their emails (Crockett, 2002) .
Video 1 provides easy steps on how to use emails. Video 2 is a guide to computer use, the internet and emails.
Learning how to send emails, facilitates communication with infinite numbers of people.
..
Video 3 - Educational video on how to write emails and use software.
References / Bibliography
Here
Further Resources
Videos / links etc.